Helen stared at the image reflected back at her in the mirror, trying to wrap her brain around what Nikola had told her. It didn't seem possible. But she couldn't deny the proof that stood before her. The woman in the mirror didn't look anything like herself. Everything about her was different than who she thought herself to be. Her hair was a dark sultry color, giving her a much harsher more mature look. The curves of her body were fuller too, more accentuated. Obviously this older version of herself stayed in shape, soft natural curves were replaced by more well defined swells.
But regular exercise wasn't the only thing that had changed her body. Faint stretch marks marred the skin below her naval and her breasts had changed in a way only motherhood could accomplish. Nikola had conveniently not mentioned anything regarding a family or her personal life. They had stuck to simpler concepts.
"Where are we, Nikola?"
"We are in your Sanctuary," he told her softly. "You followed in your father's footsteps, carrying on his work and growing it into a global network. Right now we're in your new Sanctuary and, I must say Helen, it's magnificent! You really out did yourself."
"A global network? That must have taken years! You said I seem to have lost all memory since before we injected ourselves, just how long ago was that?"
"Yes, well, that's where it begins to get a little tricky," Nikola replied uncomfortably.
"Nikola," Helen said warningly, knowing when he was trying to avoid an answer.
"It's 2012," he mumbled under his breath.
"What year did you say it was?" Helen gaped at him.
"2012," Nikola responded louder this time.
"But how is that even possible?"
"The blood, Helen. It had greater side effects than we could ever have imagined."
"Tell me," she breathed, eyes wide in a mixer of wonder and curiosity.
"Well, it gave each of us special abilities."
"We became Abnormals?"
"Yes," Nikola nodded.
"Oh Nikola, that is fantastic!"
"It was rather exciting in the beginning," Nikola conceded.
"What happened? What abilities did we gain?"
Her enthusiasm was bubbling over, barely contained.
"Nigel could go completely invisible, though it was only his physical form which meant he went traipsing about naked for years. He pulled quite a few practical jokes on all of us."
Helen laughed at that. It was so typical Nigel, always the joker.
"James's already brilliant mind was enhanced even more. His observational skills became second to none. He was Scotland Yard's number one detective. He only did consulting though, too preoccupied helping you and your father."
"I cannot imagine James anymore intuitive than he already is."
"He was absolutely insufferable!" Nikola sighed dramatically, making Helen smile.
"And the rest of us?" She prompted when he didn't continue.
"John's ability allowed him to teleport to anywhere in the world in an instant. As for me, The Blood unlocked the sanguine vampiris genes laying dormant in my DNA."
"So you are..." Helen began tactfully, not sure how to put it.
"A vampire?" Nikola supplied.
Helen nodded, her cheeks flushing a light pink color.
There was a moment of hesitation on his part, as if he was trying to decide a course of action. Without warning his entire countenance changed. The color drained from his face as his teeth grew to sharp jagged points. Long black talons sprouted from his fingers. Helen jumped, more startled than frightened.
"Nikola, you are amazing!" Helen gasp.
With a chuckled he returned back to normal.
"I never understood why you weren't scared of me."
"Should I be?" She challenged.
"Well not anymore. You created a medication that helps curb my blood lust. I haven't fed off a human in decades. But back then? You most definitely had reason to fear me. I was dangerous. I could have killed you."
"But obviously you did not," Helen defended.
"No, I didn't," Nikola said with a sigh. "But I very easily could have, almost did that first time."
"I let you feed on me."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes, but it was foolish and dangerous...and wonderful," Nikola told her, his initially stern voice fading to nothing more than a whisper by the end.
"I cannot image what it must have felt like."
"You never told me," he admitted.
They were silent for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. Nikola in his memories and Helen in her imagination.
"And what about me?" Helen asked timidly.
"You? You, my darling Helen, are immortal."
"Immortal? I do not understand."
"You don't age. Well technically you do, but at such a slow pace that it's as if you didn't. You look exactly the same as the day we injected ourselves with that Blood."
"That is not possible!"
"Isn't it? Look at me, do I look any different?"
"Well no..." Helen said slowly. "That is, you do not look terribly different. The hair is not the same and you have shaved off that ghastly mustache."
"I thought the mustache made me look rather fetching."
"It did not! It looked positively atrocious!"
They both laughed, momentarily back to the good friends they used to be.
"Well even if you haven't aged you still look different too. In a good way though," Nikola added quickly at the end.
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't seen yet, have you? No you wouldn't have. Oh this will be fun!"
"Nikola what are you on about?" Helen huffed.
"Come on and I'll show you," he said, jumping off the bed and offering her his hand.
She eyed it skeptically for a second before taking it. Pulling back the covers, Helen swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she glanced down at the long expanses of creamy skin the silken night gown didn't cover.
"Nikola," Helen whispered, dropping his hand.
"What? What is it?" He asked, turning around to face her.
His eyes followed her's and a huge grin spread across his face.
"Don't worry, Helen," he tried to sooth. "I'm not offended."
Helen rolled her eyes at him.
"Clearly modesty does not mean the same thing as it once did," Helen commented dryly, trying to ignore the way Nikola's eyes racked over her exposed skin.
"Modern fashions have changed quite a bit," he agreed. "Personally, I think it's for the better."
"Of course you do," she sighed, taking his hand once more.
He led her to the bathroom, opening the door and then motioning for her to enter.
"I will wait for you out here. Give you some privacy."
"How thoughtful of you," Helen replied sarcastically before shutting the bathroom door in his grinning face.
A baby. A family. Her as a mother. Helen's thoughts whirled out of control. Who was the father? Where was the child now? Had she had more than one?
She'd never been opposed to the idea of having a family, she simply had been so focused on her career and making a place for herself in a man's world. She was practically an old maid, had just about given up on the idea of marrying and starting a family. But obviously something had changed.
John had begun to show more than just a passing fancy. Perhaps it had developed into more? Or maybe it was another man entirely. There were quite a bit of years she couldn't remember, anything could have happened. But surely whoever it was, whoever she'd settled down with would be here now? Unless he'd died, of course. It was possible considering her extended life span. But the thought alone was rather painful, the idea of having loved someone and then lost them.
"Helen, are you alright in there?" Nikola called through the door.
Then it hit her, maybe he was here. Maybe he was standing on the other side of the door. Helen felt faint. It wasn't completely impossible. In the years she could remember, she and Nikola had shared a fair amount of kisses. Some more heated than other's. She'd always felt an odd attachment to him, a certain draw that she hadn't felt with anyone else previously. Plus, given the fact that they were both now immortals, it made sense.
"Helen?" Nikola called again, an edge of panic creeping into his voice.
Being with Nikola wouldn't be so bad. He was her friend and she really couldn't imagine her life without him. Perhaps not in the capacity that their relationship was now in, but the sentiment was there none the less. If she were being honest with herself, the thought of having Nikola's children was rather exciting. They would have beautiful brilliant children. Not even the thought of what it would take to make said children bothered her overly much, even though it probably should.
"Just a moment," she called out to him.
She'd removed the silk night gown, standing in front of the mirror naked, and she scrambled to pull it back on. Though, now that she thought about it, it wouldn't be necessary considering Nikola would have already seen her naked. That sent a shiver down her spine. But even if they had been together in the years she'd forgotten, Helen wasn't quite ready to tackle those aspects of their changed relationship.
Appropriately covered, at least by this century's new standards, she once again opened the bathroom door. Nikola was waiting anxiously just on the other side. She tried to smile reassuringly at him, but the blush creeping up her cheeks made it difficult.
"Um, Nikola?"
"Yes? What is it? What's the matter?" His brow was creased in concern.
"How long...how long have we been...together?" Helen stuttered, having to drop his gaze. "And when did we have a child?"